The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-02-07
A BOLD AMERICAN GIRL
BURLESOUES LlSzT TO HIS FACE,
AND BREAKS THE PIANO STRINGS.


Daring Deed.
LisZt was a strange compound o.
strength and weakness, but his strength
was of the best, and his weaknesses
harmed no one but himself. An article
on this subject, quoted from Paris jour
nal, may interest your readers, and gives
one very amusing idea of LISTS life
in Rome during the pOntif1cate Of Plus
TX:
"The familiar card of the Princess X
made one day a sudden sensation in social
circles. 1t ran thus: Come and take an
ice with me tomorrow evening. We
shall hear Liszt.' List was the god OF
the hour. Gossip was busy with his
friendship for Nine. de W. 1t was said
that the lady had extracted from the cele-
brated pianist the legitimate ratification
OF their affection; that Liszt, quite averse
to marriage, had interposed between his
friend and himself the obtacle of the
sacred engagement to take holy orders.
All wondered at the sudden investment
Of the artist with clerical vestments, and
curiosity, not entirely Invested Of malice,
was excited, we shall hear Lisztr
Not one of the hidden guests failed to
s'c-pt the summons of the Princess X.
I'D Roman patricians, the foreign colony,
.-Iglsh, Americans, the corps diplO-
.ajique, officers of the pontifical army,
Iany prelates, and even cardinals, gath
eel in her salon, happy for the promised
Traction, and promising themselves the
.easuTe Of hearing the ilustrious pianist
ID new able.
List appeared. The long black robe
came well his tall, thin figure. He
sra it without embarrass ment, with
II weary and little naughty express
III which never really left him. He re-
we'd with dignity the homage of the
Eeiy Ladies, saluting them majestically,
arceiy deigning to open his lips, and
joducing upon the spectators, especially
young and timid, feeling of awe.
hey found the atmosphere of the room
..nDued with his presence. The more
Outrageous brought him champagne and
omon ice, but their hands trembled while
.oing it. One whispered as if in church.
One feared to disturb the repose of the
lion. The evening advanced, and still the
master had not approached the grand
Erard which stood open for him. The
Princess K. at last decided to solicit him
to play. The guests breathlessly awaited
the hOped-for pleasure; they placed them
selves in the most favorable positions for
hearing. The discreet murmur of con-
versation stopped altogether. 1t was an
hour of ectasy. But List had nerve; he
refused to take his place at the piano.
The princess insisted; she reminded him
that he had played at the Colonna palace.
Why should he not play here? .
"Liszt, cold and immovable, answered
briefly, 4 will not playP
'The princess was desperate. Her guests
had been brought here by false hope. In
the midst Of the general silence the col
loquy became painful. A few charitable
souls came to the rescue; a prelate inter
fered. The master was obstinate. The
prettiest women deluged him with elo-
quent solicitations and supplicating looks.
All efforts failed. The great spirit re-
manned cold, and he declined in a tone
cutting and incisive. All seduetions were
pOwerless to move him.
I'm the midst of the general dismay, a
young lady, excited and irritated like all
the rest, rose and addressed in these terms
the unfortunate mistress of the house,
who sat upon thorns: Dear princess, the
master has refused US the great happi-
ness his presence made us hope for We |
can not hear his divine harmoniesI But,
since our friends expect music, will, al |
,hough very unworthy, offer my modest !
assistance. I will go to the piano
"The stupefaction could not have been
greater if one had seen the cupola of
st. Peters perform fandango. The be-
lumbed audience watched curiously the
Oung woman 1t was an American, very
ay, very daring, very witty, well known
or her eccentricities but a woman of
nind and real talent, and so young and
retty that no one could find fault with
er. She gracefully unglOved her hands,
mile the princess murmured her aston
she'd thanks, seized the arm of the first
avaller who presented himself, and went
nd seated herself on the piano stool
his scene attracted a wondering atten-
on. For while everybody forgot List
II the beautiful eyes of her who took his
ace. With the precision of an artistic,
ut the mischief Of a child, she preluded
But the piece! Oh, the
ecel 1t was a parody extra noisy of the
ost noisy composition of Liszt And
hat gave ptquancy to the thing was that
e eXecutante initiated exactly the
ethod of the master. The notes vi ,
'ated more and more under the furious
tacks; they growled angrily; the hands
n as If they were mad over the cleo
med keys. Soon it was not only the
lger but the fist which hammered the
tie, or perhaps the arm, and even the
DOW struck the ivory in burlesque
Ords.
The American lady was no longer
ated-she played standing, her eyes
ised to heaven, the head turned up.
ling her glances, either swooning or
about the room, and shaking
rsef like an evil spirit. Finally, her
IT, shaken as if by a whirlWind.
capped from the comb and fell in a sheet
out her shoulders She interrupted her {
ny, raising herself with a gesture
ward her forehead, exactly like the
aster, then painting, exhausted, laid on
tn all her force the last hoarse chords.
d let herself fall upon the piano stool.
parently half fainting. The tabouret
oke with a groan, and at the same
'ment some of the strings of the piano
acked under the last pressure.
Never shall forget the effect of this
re, doubtful as it was on the whole.
e guests forgot all decorum, thew
ithed with laughter, they held their
es, they wept The thing was so unex-
;ted. she was SO drol1, that no one conId
eek the gayety of this immense salon
g good princess could only follow the
e. And the master? He grew wan u
en, and red by turns, and picked nerv.
Ily at the buttons of his new cassock
threw wandering glance upon the
Hence. No one dared to fix mis- gaze
IN him; they were all well bred, but
p laughed aloud, although without J
lice or any intention of being insulting